Katarina + Ken Wedding
It was yet another overcast day when I arrived at the church to begin photographing Katarina and Ken’s wedding day. It was still relatively warm though so it was actually perfect weather. My day started with the ceremony at Corpus Christie Church. This was another church I had never been. It was definitely larger then most other’s I have seen. Once I arrived and got set up I instantly started taking photos of the groomsmen and the groom hanging out waiting for the bride to arrive
It was yet another overcast day when I arrived at the church to begin photographing Katarina and Ken’s wedding day. It was still relatively warm though so it was actually perfect weather. My day started with the ceremony at Corpus Christie Church. This was another church I had never been. It was definitely larger then most other’s I have seen. Once I arrived and got set up I instantly started taking photos of the groomsmen and the groom hanging out waiting for the bride to arrive. The atmosphere was relaxed which made for some nice candid photos. It also helped that all the man looked quite stylish. It was almost like I was photographing gangsters in a mafia movie.
Shortly after I arrived, Katarina and the rest of the bridal party showed up with the bus. At this point I hurried out of the church to snap some arrival photos. It was then time for the ceremony which lasted about 45 minutes. It was very nice service and it left me plenty of time to get some fantastic shots. I even managed to go upstairs quickly and get a nice wide angle photo of the entire crowd.
After a short gathering outside it was then off to the Windrose Manor on the other side of town. This is where we did most of the portraits. It was this old mansion with a wonderful front porch as well as a gated fence and entry way. As you can see from the photos it was very difficult coming up with unique and stylish photos at this location. We even got a huge family shot looking on at the front porch.
The reception took place at the Slovak Legion. I had shot a couple weddings here before so I knew what to expect, location wise. That didn’t mean that I didn’t walk away with completely creative and spontaneous photos. Everyone in the party was very easy going. With the extra time we had we took advantage of the outdoor front area. We also go some nice couples’ photos inside.
I then spent some time capturing some detail photos of the reception area. It was really quite beautiful. My favourite was the front mantel piece which was a horse and carriage resting on top of a mirror. Once the receiving line was done it was time for the entrance of the wedding party and then of course dinner. During dinner, all the kids where having fun rolling the large dice and getting Ken and Katarina to kiss. The speeches then followed and were very sincere and heartfelt.
My evening finished off with the cake cutting and then the first dances. The biggest surprise of the evening was the dance with Ken and his mother. She secretly got the DJ to start with the chicken dance song. The reaction from Ken was priceless. Luckily I was able to capture it perfectly. As I do with all my couples, thanks again to Ken and Katarina for letting me share this special day with them!
Rob + Theresa Wedding
Rob & Theresa celebrated their wedding this past June 1st and I had the pleasure of photographing them the entire day. We started at St. Peters Church in the East End. I had never been in this church before so I was in awe of how it looked on the inside. My favourite part was being able to go upstairs which allowed me to get some nice wide shots of the entire ceremony.
Rob & Theresa celebrated their wedding this past June 1st and I had the pleasure of photographing them the entire day. We started at St. Peters Church in the East End. I had never been in this church before so I was in awe of how it looked on the inside. My favourite part was being able to go upstairs which allowed me to get some nice wide shots of the entire ceremony. After the ceremony was done everyone gathered outside the church and talked for a while before moving on to the next location. This was a good opportunity to get some more candid photos as well as some posed shots in front of the church.
For the next few hours we went to different locations for the portraits with the wedding party. The first stop was the Thunder Bay Museum. The three of us recently did a short engagement shoot there so I was anxious to get the whole wedding party inside and take advantage some of the exhibits. Some of my faves from this part of the tour was when we got both bridal parties in front of the old street exhibit. Upon exiting the Museum I quickly got Rob & Theresa to stand in the middle of the busy street so I could get some shots of them with the city as the backdrop.
It was then off to the Thunder Bay Conservatory. We spent about 40 minutes here. This is always a good location to shoot at because the lighting is great and there are lots of wonderful backdrops. Plus, we basically had the place to ourselves.
The last stop before the reception was Comix Plus, one of the local comic book stores downtown. Everyone had a great time there posing with the all the old comic books and albums. As you can see from the photos below we came away with some very unique photos.
The reception took place at the Italian Hall. As always it was a great venue. Everyone had a great time and there were a lot of laughs. Especially when Rob and Theresa were put back to back on chairs and asked to answer questions about their relationship. Some of the expressions during those moments were priceless. My night was almost done but not before the first dance. You could really tell just how much in love Rob and Theresa were by the way they danced and kissed during that first dance.
Thanks again, as always, to Rob and Theresa for letting me document their special day!
John + Marie Wedding
My first wedding of the 2013 season was at the Vahalla Inn. John & Marie wanted photos taken of their ceremony and the guests, along with some portraits afterwards. Once I arrived I quickly got my gear ready and started taking photos of guests mingling as I usually do. The ceremony took place at 3:00 and lasted for about 30 minutes. There were about 60 people there which made for a nice intimate wedding. After all was said and done, everyone congratulated John & Marie, then it was time for some portraits.
My first wedding of the 2013 season was at the Vahalla Inn. John & Marie wanted photos taken of their ceremony and the guests, along with some portraits afterwards. Once I arrived I quickly got my gear ready and started taking photos of guests mingling as I usually do. The ceremony took place at 3:00 and lasted for about 30 minutes. There were about 60 people there which made for a nice intimate wedding. After all was said and done, everyone congratulated John & Marie, then it was time for some portraits.
We took advantage of the hallway leading to the lobby. There was some nice natural light coming through the windows. Once we made our way to the lobby, we took all the photos of the family. The setting was perfect as it was right by a fireplace and the skylight above was shining some natural light on everyone as well.
After the group photos were done we made one final stop along the hallway and captured a few more photos of the happy couple. It was a quick wedding for me but I had a great time. Thanks again to John and Marie for choosing me as their photographer.
Bob + Michelle Wedding
My final wedding of the season was with Bob & Michelle. Bob and I used to play baseball back in the day so when him and Michelle asked me to shoot their wedding I was excited to see how he’s been. After initially photographing their engagement photos earlier in the year I also got the opportunity to get to know Michelle as well. Suffice it to say I was very anxious to work with them again for their wedding.
My final wedding of the season was with Bob & Michelle. Bob and I used to play baseball back in the day so when him and Michelle asked me to shoot their wedding I was excited to see how he’s been. After initially photographing their engagement photos earlier in the year I also got the opportunity to get to know Michelle as well. Suffice it to say I was very anxious to work with them again for their wedding.
The day for me started at Michelle’s house. As everyone got ready I just tried to stay out of the way while capturing some natural and spontaneous moments. I came away with some really good ones. The bus then came and picked up all the girls and drove them to the church. The ceremony itself was at St. Dominic’s Church. This was my first wedding here and as soon as I entered my heart skipped a beat. It was by far one of the nicest and most grand churches I have been in. During the ceremony I really tried to show that scale in some of the photos. Because of all the wide open space I was able to move around and get some good emotional photos.
After the ceremony everyone gathered outside and eventually saw the bride, groom and rest of the bridal part off. Our first stop was the Friendship Gardens for the family photos. Although there weren’t too many fall colours out yet, there were still plenty of colours and beautiful spots to work with. Then it was off to the Fort William Gardens. We weren’t able to actually take photos on the ice but we did manage to get some photos in the stands and press box. The final stop for portraits was the Port Arthur Stadium. We actually had a bit more time to work with so we used the dugout and tunnels for some unique shots. The entire party also took to the field which allowed from some good candid photos.
Lastly, we ended up the Italian Hall for the reception. This was my first time in the main ballroom. The decorations were fantastic along with the rest of the decor. It was definitely a busy day but it went by very fast. Being able to go to a variety of locations through Thunder Bay was the biggest highlight of the day for me. Bob, Michelle and the rest of the party were very easy going and fun to hang out with. Thanks to everyone for a great time!
Alicia + Tim Wedding
As the wedding season winds down I am really cherishing the last few that I have. Luckily, my latest wedding was at yet another location which I have never photographed before. And, the weather was great, as usual. Stepstone Centre, which is located just north of Thunder Bay on Onion Lake Road, was where Tim and Alicia chose to have their wedding. As soon as you arrive, you notice the long driveway leading to the main house accompanied by a smaller guest house. Everything is surrounded by a huge forest.
As the wedding season winds down I am really cherishing the last few that I have. Luckily, my latest wedding was at yet another location which I have never photographed before. And, the weather was great, as usual. Stepstone Centre, which is located just north of Thunder Bay on Onion Lake Road, was where Tim and Alicia chose to have their wedding. As soon as you arrive, you notice the long driveway leading to the main house accompanied by a smaller guest house. Everything is surrounded by a huge forest.
Alicia spent the first couple hours getting reading at the guest house. Her and her bridesmaids got their makeup done and generally tried to calm the nerves. I spent most of my time with them up until the ceremony. I did get a chance to photograph some of the decor in the main tent where the reception would be held later that evening. Each table was named after a band which was a nice touch. There was a main cake which looked wonderful. It was also accompanied by a huge array of cupcakes.
It was then time to make my way to the main ceremony area. To get there, you have to walk down this long path through the tall trees. There were photos of Alicia and Tim hanging from the trees all along the way. Kind of like a trip down memory lane. The seating was set up right by the river. That combined with a local guitarist playing music in the background made for a perfect setting.
Once the ceremony was done, everyone mingled for a while and congratulated the bride and groom. Then it was time for some group portraits. I thought the main trail between the trees would be the perfect spot so that is where we went. We then walked back to the main house and captured some photos by the water and with the sun shining down in the background. It made for some magical backlit photos.
We then walked back to the ceremony area and took advantage of the tall trees along the path. There were multiple pathways within the forest so I got Alicia and Tim to walk slowly along them. This created some natural candid moments. We then finished off by the river, capturing a few more photos there. As we were walking back, we did do one more sequence which was with the empty picture frame Alicia had brought. We stopped along the path, where some of the photos were hanging from the trees, and quickly took some fun spontaneous photos where they were both looking through the frame and making faces at each other.
My day was done after that so I congratulated Alicia and Tim and hurried home so I could look at the resulting photos, which turned out great. Thanks again to Alicia and Tim for letting me be a part of their wedding day!
Alisha + Derek Wedding
After an engagement shoot at Chippewa Park a few works prior, it was time for the real thing. As soon as I arrived I made my way to the cabin where Alisha and her bridesmaids were getting ready. I took some elegant photos of the dress as well as some candid photos of everyone getting ready. With a bit of time to spare I then made my way to the ceremony area. It was located right by the water in behind the main cabin in a beautiful setting.
After an engagement shoot at Chippewa Park a few works prior, it was time for the real thing. As soon as I arrived I made my way to the cabin where Alisha and her bridesmaids were getting ready. I took some elegant photos of the dress as well as some candid photos of everyone getting ready. With a bit of time to spare I then made my way to the ceremony area. It was located right by the water in behind the main cabin in a beautiful setting.
All the seats were setup and guests were gathering as everyone waited for the bride to arrive. Once Alisha did arrive it was a wonderful entrance. There was a nice long pathway coming from around the trees into the ceremony area. The flower girl almost stole the show show, as she smiled the whole way carrying her little bouquet. Once Alisha arrived at the alter the ceremony began. The highlight for me was the poem Alisha and Derek wrote for on another. It was a very nice touch.
Immediately afterwards we did all the family and group shots and then it was time to focus on the bridal party. We began by walking out to the end of the path overlooking Lake Superior followed by a few quick photos along the beach. The thing that made this wedding so different from anything I have photographed up to this point was the fact that there was an amusement park. Alisha and Derek bought tickets for any guests who wanted to take advantage some of the rides. We focused on the bumper cars and the merry go round. They turned out great!
My favourite part of the day came next, where it was just me, Alisha and Derek doing the main portraits. We made our way to the boardwalk and got some truly creative and striking photos there. Next up was the reception which was located in the main lodge. Unlike some receptions, getting the couple to kiss requires a certain challenge. This one was no exception. There was a mystery kiss jar which included the names of couples in the crowd. Once called, they had to come up and perform a unique kiss of their choosing. It was then Alisha and Derek’s turn to copy that exact kiss. As you can imagine, some of the kisses were very creative and fun.
After the speeches were done, it was time for the first dance and then the cake cutting. Before the regular dancing started there were two more things to take care of. The first of which was the bouquet toss. This was followed by the garter toss. Both of these drew huge crowds, and aside from a small tumble, one lucky many and woman made a great catch. And then everyone danced the night away. As always, thanks to Alisha and Derek for a wonderful time.
Rachel + AJ Wedding
When Rachael & AJ contacted me to photograph their wedding at Silver Harbour I could not wait to do so. It is a very beautiful area, especially this time of year. The location of the wedding was at house right on Lake Superior. As guests gathered and mingled by the waterfront I began taking candid photos right away. We also did some group shots while we waited for Rachael to get ready.
When Rachael & AJ contacted me to photograph their wedding at Silver Harbour I could not wait to do so. It is a very beautiful area, especially this time of year. The location of the wedding was at house right on Lake Superior. As guests gathered and mingled by the waterfront I began taking candid photos right away. We also did some group shots while we waited for Rachael to get ready.
As everyone gathered on the rocks by the water, Rachael made her way, with her mom, down the forest path. About 15 minutes later the ceremony was over and it was time for some more group shots. Once those were done those, it was time for me, Rachael and AJ to get some nice portraits done. We started around the corner on the rocks, right by the water. There was a beautiful bench along the tree line that we also took advantage of. We ended with some photos in the forest.
There were still a few more family photos that they wanted to take so we spent a bit more time doing those. I was only there for about an hour and a half but I came away with some exceptional photos. This was definitely one of my favourite weddings to date, even though it was short one for me.
Thanks to Racheal and AJ to letting me be a part of their special day.
Melissa + Robert Wedding
Melissa & Robert decided to have their wedding at their parent’s place just off Mud Lake Road. It was just a bit north of Murillo. Going in, I didn’t know what I expect, other then what Melissa and Robert told me about the location. I was blown away by the entire property. Upon entering, there was a huge gate with a sign on it indicating the marriage of Melissa and Robert. You can see it by scanning through the photos below.
Melissa & Robert decided to have their wedding at their parent’s place just off Mud Lake Road. It was just a bit north of Murillo. Going in, I didn’t know what I expect, other then what Melissa and Robert told me about the location. I was blown away by the entire property. Upon entering, there was a huge gate with a sign on it indicating the marriage of Melissa and Robert. You can see it by scanning through the photos below. Once I made my way down the long driveway it was greeted by a huge red barn, some old tractors and a field on both sides. I first made my way to the main house where Robert and his groomsmen were getting ready. I spent some time there documenting them. I came away with some fantastic natural shots.
It was then time for Melissa and her bridesmaids to arrive. After snapping a few photos of them exiting the car, I also spent a bit of time photographing them getting ready. Shortly after that the ceremony began. It was located just down from the house. There was an area set up overlooking the large field (and pumpkin patch) behind. Once the ceremony was complete, guests congratulated the bride and groom. Portraits of the family and wedding party followed. There was definitely no shortage of photo opportunities. We began with the large red barn where the reception took place. The wedding party then joined me at various locations throughout the property. We took advantage of some old farm equipment, bails of hay, the long gravel driveway and the grassy fields. There was also a horse and carriage that took guests for a ride up and down the driveway. It was nice touch.
As I mentioned before, the red barn was host to the reception. The decorations were amazing along with the food. After dinner was served the speeches were said and then it was time for the cake cutting. And then of course, the night continued with hours of dancing and celebrating. Congratulations to Melissa and Robert on their wedding. It was one of the most beautiful weddings I have had the pleasure of shooting.
Aya + Denis Wedding
Mission Marsh in Thunder Bay was once again the setting for yet another portrait session. This time around it was with Aya and Dennis. They got married earlier in the day and wanted me to spend an hour taking some post wedding photos.
Mission Marsh in Thunder Bay was once again the setting for yet another portrait session. This time around it was with Aya and Dennis. They got married earlier in the day and wanted me to spend an hour taking some post wedding photos.
First we took some group family shots down on the beach with the sleeping giant in the background. Next we took advantage of the beautiful fields and captured some more group portraits. Then it was all about Aya and Dennis! We basically walked around the area and took some fun and spontaneous photos along the way. The session went by quickly as usual and it was a lot of fun. Good luck to Aya and Dennis and thanks again for the opportunity!
Chellsea + Chris Wedding
It was yet another beautiful day for a wedding. This time around it was Chris and Chellsea getting married. The ceremony was the first thing on the agenda and it took place at the Slovak Legion in the east end of Thunder Bay. This is yet another location I have never photographed at so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It ended up being perfect for a ceremony. It took place indoors but it was in a room on the side of the hall with a lot of skylights which allowed for tons of natural light.
It was yet another beautiful day for a wedding. This time around it was Chris and Chellsea getting married. The ceremony was the first thing on the agenda and it took place at the Slovak Legion in the east end of Thunder Bay. This is yet another location I have never photographed at so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It ended up being perfect for a ceremony. It took place indoors but it was in a room on the side of the hall with a lot of skylights which allowed for tons of natural light.
It was a small and intimate wedding. The ceremony took about 15 minutes and then it was off to the Mission Marsh which was about a 5 minute drive. For those who don’t know, it’s a conservation area in Thunder Bay that overlooks the Sleeping Giant. It’s a great spot for portraits which is exactly why we chose this location. After some quick fixes to Chellsea’s dress we made our way to the beach and took all the group family shoots overlooking Lake Superior. Then it was off for some quick photos of just Chellsea and Chris along one of the beautiful paths. Lastly, we took advantage of the lookout and boardwalk.
We then made our way back to the legion and took some photos with the pool tables. This was probably one of my favourite parts of the day. We got some very unique shots here. Plus, once Chellsea left, Chris and I took a couple fun photos of him lying on the pool table, which Chellsea has yet to see until now!
The reception was in the main hall which was equally nice. After the receiving line, dinner was served and then it was time for the first dance and speeches. The cake cutting was to follow and after that it was the end of my night. The whole day just flew by and it was a lot of fun. I love how the photos turned out and I hope Chellsea and Chris do to!
Shelly + Paul Wedding
Shelly & Paul celebrated their wedding at Whitewater Golf Course in Thunder Bay. This was my first time photographing at this venue, so as always, I was very excited for the wedding date to arrive. The day was bright, sunny and hot. Luckily there was some shade on the outside deck where the ceremony took place. As all the guests slowly arrived there was a cellist playing music in the background.
Shelly & Paul celebrated their wedding at Whitewater Golf Course in Thunder Bay. This was my first time photographing at this venue, so as always, I was very excited for the wedding date to arrive. The day was bright, sunny and hot. Luckily there was some shade on the outside deck where the ceremony took place. As all the guests slowly arrived there was a cellist playing music in the background.
A waited patiently along with Paul and the rest of the guests for Shelly to make her way down the aisle. Once she was ready the music started and the guest stood up. The ceremony was short and beautiful. The view of the entire golf course background only added to the overall atmosphere. It was then time for the receiving line which all the guests took part in. There were many hugs and even some tears as guest congratulated Paul on Shelly.
The wedding party then made their way to the golf carts and we were off for a ride through the golf course. We ended up at a hole that overlooked the river. After some group shots it was time to head back to the reception. One of the highlights of the reception included guests having to hool-a-hoop in order for the bride and groom to kiss. Quite a few got up and took part which made for some great moments. Once dinner was done, there were a few speeches and then it was time for the first dance. Dancing for the rest of guest followed along with a cake cutting later in the evening.
Whitewater golf course was a great location for a wedding and the whole day was a joy to photograph. Good luck to both Paul and Shelly, and thanks again for sharing your day with me!
Jen + Dustin Wedding
My first out of town wedding of the year took me to Fort Frances. This was the first time I shot a wedding in this city. I was very anxious to do so because I have really wanted to explore the city for some time now. I arrived early in the afternoon which gave me a small amount of time to scope out the ceremony location as well as some spots in the city which we would eventually be using.
My first out of town wedding of the year took me to Fort Frances. This was the first time I shot a wedding in this city. I was very anxious to do so because I have really wanted to explore the city for some time now. I arrived early in the afternoon which gave me a small amount of time to scope out the ceremony location as well as some spots in the city which we would eventually be using.
The ceremony itself was at the hotel which was a beautiful location. It was right on the lake with a variety of docks leading out to the water. Everyone gathered in the back courtyard and watched as the wedding party made their way to the alter. Their was a little bit of fear that the weather would not hold but it did, and for the majority of the day which was perfect.
After the ceremony there was a receiving line and then it was time to start the family portraits. The first set took place on the docks on the lake. As you can see from the photos it was a great location. Then it was off to the forest beside the hotel that overlooked the water. This is where we focused more on the entire bridal party. The adventure started soon after that as we made our way to rest of the locations around the city.
The first stop was the ‘Point’, which had a huge tree which we used in some of the photos as well as a spectacular view overlooking the city. There was also a train bridge which we also used as a backdrop for some group photos. It was very windy but the unpredictable weather only added to the photos. We got out of that spot just as a storm rolled in. Luckily our next location was indoors…the hockey arena!
This was definitely one of the more unique locations I have shot at. We were able to have the entire rink to ourselves. We took advantage of the team benches, the penalty box as well as the stands. Once we left there we went to our final location which was the boardwalk. It was then back to the hotel where the reception took place.
Overall the reception was a lot of fun. There were some great speeches, the food was superb and lots of people got up to dance which is always good to see. Last but not least was the bouquet toss, which as always, ended with a mad sprawl amongst the single women. Congratulations to Jen and Dustin and the rest of the party for a wonderful wedding. Everyone was easy going, fun and it really came through in all the photos.
